South Carolina Witness Project

The South Carolina Witness Project is a nonprofit organization focused on raising awareness and promoting access to preventive breast and cervical cancer screenings throughout South Carolina. The project is particularly aimed at empowering women by increasing their knowledge and participation in early cancer detection practices.

Mission and Activities

The South Carolina Witness Project operates as a culturally competent and community-based program. It utilizes cancer survivors and community leaders to educate women on the importance of breast and cervical cancer screenings. The program emphasizes early detection methods such as mammography, clinical breast examinations, pelvic exams, and Pap tests[1][2].

Impact

Over 11,000 women have been positively impacted by the SC Witness Project. This includes:

• 11,430 women educated about breast and cervical cancer
• 1,048 women referred for further assistance
• 472 witnesses trained statewide as Lay Health Advisors or Witness Role Models
• 407 community presentations delivered to promote awareness and screening participation[1].

The project collaborates with various organizations to ensure that women are directed towards appropriate screening services[3][5].

Partnerships and Community Outreach

The South Carolina Witness Project collaborates with local and national health organizations to extend its outreach. For instance, it has partnered with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program to enhance its impact[5]. Additionally, it works with community churches, leveraging their influence in rural areas to disseminate health information effectively[2][3].

Program Structure

The program is structured around empowering African American women, who often face higher mortality rates from breast and cervical cancer compared to other demographic groups. It incorporates faith and cultural elements into its educational approach, making the message more relatable and effective within communities where churches play a central role[2][3].

[1] https://www.scwitnessproject.org [2] https://ebccp.cancercontrol.cancer.gov/uploads/RTIPS/WHE/DoHHS/NIH/NCI/DCCPS/2610.pdf;jsessionid=A0A58860CBF0565914AAAE75BB6D62CA [3] https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3755099/ [4] http://www.scvan.org/donate [5] https://womenshealth.gov/blog/99-percent-survival-rate-breast-cancer-caught-early